Chapman Partnership celebrated its 30th Anniversary Illuminations Gala with an evening of dining, dancing, and entertainment, raising over $750,000 to provide life-changing, wrap-around comprehensive programs and services that lead to self-sufficiency for our 3,000 men, women, and children experiencing homelessness in Miami’s two largest emergency shelters. A total of 145,000 individual lives have been impacted since the founding of the organization in 1995.

The 2025 Illuminations Gala took place on Saturday, October 25, 2025, at the JW Marriott Marquis. The event honored the donors and volunteers whose work is a shining light for those experiencing homelessness. The exciting evening was produced by WOW MKTG and featured Laurie Jennings, former Local 10 News anchor and now with Laurie Jennings Live!, as the Illuminary Hostess Extraordinaire.

The milestone signature gala was generously sponsored by Mickey and Madeleine Arison Family Foundation, Trish & Dan Bell, Heide & Jose “Pepe” Dans, Banesco, Marsh and McLennan Agency & Florida Blue, CVS Pharmacy & Navarro, MDCPS Foundation, Hirtle Callaghan & Co. Chief Investment Officers, Fifth Third Bank, Diageo, and Berger Singerman, among many others. This year’s exclusive media sponsor was Miami Herald and El Nuevo Herald, along with media support from Coral Gables Magazine, Social Miami, Brickell Magazine, Hola Latinos, Miami Kids Magazine, and S Revista.

“Our commitment to Chapman Partnership is born of a deep conviction and belief that we need to help those who are most in need,” said Jose Dans, who, along with his wife Heide, serves as co-chair of the Illuminations Gala for the fifth year. “Families are the building blocks of society and when they are displaced, we all suffer. The impact is felt in the community at large. Chapman Partnership is dedicated to helping these families get back on their feet. Heide and I have instilled this love of neighbor in our family and there is no greater example of it than Chapman Partnership.”

At this year’s gala, Chapman Partnership presented the Alvah H. and Betty B. Chapman Humanitarian Award to Honorable Steve Leifman, a leader who demonstrates the same outstanding humanitarian initiative and compassion for others as Alvah H. Chapman, Jr. did. Leifman was honored by his peers as an extraordinarily compassionate and dedicated advocate for transforming the care for individuals experiencing mental illness and homelessness. His visionary leadership has redefined Miami-Dade County’s approach to treatment, compassion, and recovery.

Leifman joins an impressive roster of Alvah H. Chapman, Jr. Humanitarian Award recipients, including Trish and Dan Bell, Ron Book, Sash A. Spencer, Robert E. Chisholm, Betty B. Chapman, Carlos Fernandez-Guzman, Tim Adams, Alberto Carvalho, Sherrill Hudson, Peter T. Pruitt, Jr., and others.

Also recognized at the event was Desmond Meade as the 2025 Chapman Partnership Legacy of Impact honoree. A nationally recognized civil rights leader and former resident, Meade has been instrumental in restoring voting rights to returning citizens and advancing justice, dignity, and second chances for countless individuals. His work embodies Chapman Partnership’s vision of creating pathways to stability and opportunity, and his recognition will serve as a powerful reminder of the impact one leader can have in transforming lives and communities. The special evening was followed by the annual Illuminations Gala nextgen After Party, sponsored by Bradesco Bank, Kaufman Rossin, Carley & Chris Pina, and many more, hosted by nextgen, Chapman Partnership’s young professionals group. nextgen is made up of Miami’s young professionals and community ambassadors, between the ages of 21-45, who work to increase awareness, revenue, and advocacy for Chapman Partnership.

Chapman Partnership is the private sector partner of the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust. For more information, visit www.chapmanpartnership.org.